Discover Stirling
A castle on a crag above the Forth, a walled Old Town under it, and the ground of two battles within sight of the walls
Between the Highlands and the Lowlands
Stirling stands on the River Forth. Its castle sits on a crag of quartz-dolerite, part of the Stirling Sill, and an old saying has the town clasping 'Highlands and Lowlands together' like a brooch. It was made a city in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee and had about 37,910 people in 2020. The Gaelic name is Sruighlea.
The Old Town runs from the castle esplanade down Castle Wynd, Broad Street and St John Street, past the Church of the Holy Rude, where James VI was crowned in 1567, and Cowane's Hospital, a 1637 almshouse. Below the crag, the Old Bridge of about 1500 replaced the wooden bridge of the 1297 battle. The Wallace Monument stands on the Abbey Craig across the river.
What's On
Upcoming events and things happening in Stirling
Port Street market
RecurringIndependent producers and makers on Port Street, Saturdays 10:00 to 16:00 on listed dates.
Stirling Highland Games
RecurringHeavy events, Highland dancing and a traders' village. Announced for Saturday 21 August 2027.
Bloody Scotland
RecurringCrime writing festival in September; 2026 ran 18 to 20 September.
Stirling Right Now
The live weather feed for Stirling is not available right now. Check the Met Office forecast before you climb to the castle or the Wallace Monument, because both are exposed hilltops, and bring a waterproof for the cobbles.
🚆 National Rail from Stirling
Live departures
National Rail service from Stirling. Updates every half hour.
Where To Eat
From fine dining to casual favourites
Brea
Relaxed Scottish cooking on Baker Street, between the station and the castle. Open daily from noon.
Hermann's
Austrian cooking with Scottish produce on Broad Street in the Old Town, run by a Tyrolean chef.
An Dárna
Five-course tasting menus with optional drinks pairings on Friars Street, Wednesday to Sunday.